Cultivating in Online Games

Chapter 95 - The Old Immortal

At seven o’clock in the evening, it was lively, and Dugu Zhuo didn’t expect Ye Zhou to log in today. He was currently with Yi Meng Xiaoyao and others, hunting monsters in the wilderness.

Thanks to their assistance yesterday, the sect’s disciple recruitment ceremony went smoothly. Dugu Zhuo gifted the “Maze Formation” to Yi Meng Xiaoyao, Bai Yi Piaopiao, Ti Tou Lai Jian, and Shen Bi Xiao Ma. Yi Meng Xiaoyao immediately wanted to use the formation in the arena to trick players.

Dugu Zhuo stopped him, explaining that just knowing how to set up a formation wasn’t enough; the nuances of formations had to be mastered through practical experience.

So Dugu Zhuo took them to hunt monsters while familiarizing themselves with the formation. They took turns using the formation, gradually becoming more coordinated.

“This formation isn’t very useful against boss monsters but is a great way to clear small mobs,” Yi Meng Xiaoyao remarked.

“That’s because the formation is primarily defensive, not an offensive type,” Dugu Zhuo replied.

Bai Yi Piaopiao asked, “So you’re saying there are offensive formations?”

Dugu Zhuo responded, “There are many kinds, designed based on the different races, primary skills, team tactics, and player factions.”

Everyone suddenly stopped and looked at Dugu Zhuo with sharp eyes.

Dugu Zhuo said, “Once I finish the remaining construction of the sect’s peaks, I’ll find a way to design more formations. I also need to research some skills, especially since I’ve accepted three disciples.”

Previously, experimenting with skills was troublesome; the system required players to be killed for the skills to be recognized, and announcements would flood the game. Dugu Zhuo disliked showing off and, after meeting the conditions for establishing a sect, stopped thinking about new skills, only using a few he was comfortable with.

Now it was different. In the arena, players wouldn’t lose experience or skills upon death, making it an ideal place to test new skills. After establishing the sect, the system informed Dugu Zhuo that any self-created skills would be recorded as sect skills, without being announced to the entire server. This motivated him to try out a few more skills.

Yi Meng Xiaoyao asked, “So… can I still switch to Wushuang Sect? Several of my brothers have already founded sects and invited me to be a small leader, but I’ve been wanting to stick with you, and I never agreed.”

Dugu Zhuo replied, “The system told me that as the sect leader, I can’t join other factions, nor can I create a sect.”

Similarly, Elder Ye Zhou couldn’t either.

On the other hand, ungrateful disciples like Ye Jian could wander the world and join a sect for support, which seemed unfair.

“Then won’t your attack power lag behind?” Yi Meng Xiaoyao asked.

Dugu Zhuo replied, “Not really. The system has given me several methods to strengthen the sect, which I can pass on to my disciples. The cultivation level is related to the sect’s fame; my current fame level is five.”

Since he had just established the sect, Dugu Zhuo was still learning many of its settings and wasn’t sure whether this fame level was high or low.

Yi Meng Xiaoyao and the others were speechless.

The transformed Shen Bi Xiao Ma anxiously stomped his feet: “Master, the highest level for a sect is eight! Everyone’s level is still low, and the sect features have just been opened. The highest level in the game is only two!”

Shen Bi Xiao Ma was a well-behaved person. After yesterday’s ceremony, he naturally began calling Dugu Zhuo “Master.”

Yi Meng Xiaoyao clapped his hands excitedly: “That’s right! Wushuang Sect is so famous and has such a vast territory; their level must be higher than those small sects just established. Ah… Dugu Zhuo, can you check the system’s sect introduction? Is it really impossible to accept dual enrolled disciples?”

Under the pressure of everyone, Dugu Zhuo opened the dozens of pages of sect descriptions, frowned, flipped through them for a while, and finally found a line that said, “You can establish an external cooperation hall to absorb disciples from other sects. The number of external disciples is determined by the sect level. Initially, it can hold 30 people, and for each level the sect advances, it can add 10 external disciples, up to a maximum of 100.”

“That’s it!” Yi Meng Xiaoyao exclaimed. “Dugu Zhuo, can you set up an external cooperation hall so we can join?”

His voice had a hint of flattery.

Bai Yi Piaopiao added, “Once I join the external cooperation hall, I’ll definitely make a video. The video I took of Dugu Zhuo fighting yesterday gained me 40,000 followers in a day, and it’s still increasing! It’s amazing!”

Upon hearing this, Dugu Zhuo looked at Bai Yi Piaopiao: “You recorded a video of me?”

Bai Yi Piaopiao replied, “Of course! This time it finally came out clear. Not only me, but others who attended the disciple recruitment ceremony also recorded it. The forum is now full of your images, all saying you’re a handsome guy with no blind spots and that some envy how you can randomly create such a good-looking character face.”

Dugu Zhuo couldn’t access the forum and was unaware of what was happening outside. It was only now that he learned his appearance was already known.

What had changed since it was previously impossible to record?

Did Ye Zhou’s thoughts change somehow?

Thinking of this, Dugu Zhuo eagerly wanted to see Ye Zhou, but he could only wait until evening.

Just then, the system prompted Dugu Zhuo that Ye Zhou was online.

Dugu Zhuo immediately said to his teammates, “I’ll head back to the sect to look into the external cooperation hall. You guys keep hunting monsters and leveling up.”

“Okay!” Yi Meng Xiaoyao replied excitedly. “Hurry back, we’re waiting for you.”

Ye Zhou naturally logged in at the sect, and Dugu Zhuo had left some invitations to facilitate quick teleportation back.

Dugu Zhuo used an invitation and instantly returned to the sect, where he saw Ye Zhou sitting on the plaza in front of the main hall, staring blankly at a pile of construction materials.

Seeing Dugu Zhuo had returned, Ye Zhou stood up and asked, “Where did these materials come from?”

“They were given by the system. Why are you logged in at this time? Didn’t you go for a physical check today?” Dugu Zhuo stepped forward to hold Ye Zhou’s wrist, which was almost a routine gesture whenever he saw Ye Zhou.

Feeling Dugu Zhuo’s concern, Ye Zhou smiled knowingly: “The checkup ended a while ago, and I can log in for a bit now that I’m back home.”

“I see,” Dugu Zhuo replied.

Ye Zhou, full of anticipation, asked, “How’s my health? Has it improved a lot?”

Dugu Zhuo could tell from Ye Zhou’s expression that the checkup results might be good, so he smiled and said, “Your health is naturally getting better.”

After the next main storyline segment, perhaps he could walk with crutches. Dugu Zhuo speculated based on Ye Zhou’s progress.

Ye Zhou nudged Dugu Zhuo with his shoulder: “Do you know how it’s improved?”

Dugu Zhuo said, “Liver and kidney function?”

“Yes, my illnesses are supposedly incurable and can only be maintained slowly. Yet now, I’m improving little by little. My dad asked me if I met some old immortal,” Ye Zhou said, glancing sneakily at Dugu Zhuo.

Old…? Dugu Zhuo ignored the last two words, thinking that while he looked young, he was indeed several hundred years old. Ye Zhou, as a reincarnated soul, was naturally much younger.

“Not old, I think,” Dugu Zhuo said, stroking his chin and trying to maintain a vibrant expression.

Noticing that he didn’t catch Ye Zhou’s hint, Ye Zhou prompted, “Are you saying that I must have eaten some kind of elixir to recover?”

Only then did Dugu Zhuo realize Ye Zhou was testing him and replied, “It’s not exactly an elixir, but your health will continue to improve.”

The two sat side by side on the steps of the main hall. Ye Zhou said, “What happens when I’m fully recovered? My family might force me to go out, and they might even arrange blind dates for me.”

Seeing Dugu Zhuo smile a bit awkwardly, Ye Zhou added, “However, if I tell them I have a partner, they probably won’t pressure me. But I currently don’t have a partner—what should I do?”

Understanding the underlying message, Dugu Zhuo smoothly said, “Can I recommend myself?”

“You said it yourself!”

Ye Zhou immediately stood up, leaned closer to Dugu Zhuo, and quickly pressed a kiss to his lips.

After the fleeting touch, Ye Zhou jumped up, acting as if nothing had happened: “It really won’t get harmonized and blocked, right?”